The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022

Watchkeeping arrangements generally and at sea

56.—(1) The master of a ship must ensure that the watchkeeping arrangements for the ship are at all times adequate for maintaining safe navigational, engineering and radio watches—

(a) in accordance with STCW Regulation VIII/2, paragraph 2 (watchkeeping arrangements and principles to be observed); and

(b) taking into account—

(i) the prevailing circumstances and conditions; and

(ii) section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code (watchkeeping arrangements and principles to be observed).

(2) Without prejudice to the duties of a master provided by paragraph (1), a master must give directions to the deck watchkeeping officers responsible for navigating the ship safely during their periods of duty, in accordance with—

(a) section A-VIII/2, Part 4-1, of the STCW Code (principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch); and

(b) any requirements specified in Merchant Shipping Notice 1868 (M) Amendment 1(1).

(3) The chief engineer officer of a ship must ensure that the engineering watchkeeping arrangements for the ship are at all times adequate for maintaining a safe watch, in accordance with—

(a) section A-VIII/2, Part 4-2, of the STCW Code (principles to be observed in keeping an engineering watch); and

(b) any requirements specified in Merchant Shipping Notice 1868 (M) Amendment 1.

(1)

Merchant Shipping Notice 1868 (M) Amendment 1 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/merchant-shipping-notices-msns and in hard copy from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone [phone] and email [e-mail]) and on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency.